New Albany schools snag Olentangy treasurer

The fast-growing New Albany-Plain school district hired a treasurer tonight who comes from the
fastest-growing district in Ohio.

Rebecca Jenkins will join the New Albany district in February, leaving her job at Olentangy
schools, which, like New Albany, was once a mostly rural area that has boomed with development.

Although Jenkins will be working in a district a quarter the size of Olentangy -- the New Albany
district has about 4,000 students -- the move will bring a pay raise. The 3 1/2-year deal in New
Albany will pay $132,000 a year, compared to $119,100 she earned in Olentangy this school year.

Olentangy, where district has been treasurer since 2005, will begin looking for a replacement
immediately.

"Filling this very important role is the board’s top priority," noard President Dave King said
in a statement. "Olentangy has a long history of financial responsibility, and we are committed to
maintaining that high standard."

The New Albany contract provides Jenkins bonuses of up to 10 percent of her salary each full
year in office, and up to 5 percent for the first half-year of the deal. The district also will pay
for "reasonable" job-related job travel expenses. Taxpayers will pay for the same share of her
medical insurance that they pay for other administrators, which is 90 percent for single plans and
85 for family plans.

Jenkins also will receive a one-time $5,000 payment if she moves to New Albany.

New Albany schools have been looking for a full-time treasurer since Brian Ramsay
left last
year following an interest rate-swap deal that the district paid $6 million to exit. Ramsay was
paid $140,000 at New Albany when he left to become treasurer of Westfall schools in Pickaway
County. That job pays $15,000 less than he earned in New Albany.

Jenkins will begin her new job at the beginning of February, with the contract ending at the ned
of July in 2016.